Smart Bike Lights is a data field IQ Connect application for Garmin devices, that displays and controls ANT+ lights. Garmin has a built-in Auto Light mode setting, which automatically adjusts the light intensity based on the ambient light or time of day. The issue with Auto mode is that is not configurable and that is why this application introduces a special Smart mode, which is fully configurable based on sunset, sunrise, speed, ... (check supported filters).
| Small | Light Panel | Dark Small | Dark Light Panel | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ![]() |
| ![]() |
Light Beam Activated setting to Timer Start in Menu -> Sensors -> Lights -> Network Options (optional step. Ignore this step if such setting does not exist on your device)Lights ConfigurationConnect IQ -> Smart Bike Lights| Name | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Smart (S) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the filters defined with Lights Configurator |
| Network (N) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the Garmin Light mode |
| Manual (M) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the user |
For Edge touch screen devices (Edge 1030/1000/Explore/820/830):
For Edge 530:
Data Fields -> Connect IQ data fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Control mode and change to the desired modeFor watches with CIQ 3.2 and more than 32KB memory (Fenix 5 Plus/5S Plus/5X Plus, Fenix 6 Pro/6X Pro/6S Pro, Forerunner 245 Music/645 Music/745/945, MARQ, Descent Mk2):
Up button until a menu shows up (make sure that you have a recent firmware installed)ConnectIQ Fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Control mode and change to the desired modeFor other devices:
The initial control mode will be determined based on the configuration from the Lights Configurator. When using a configuration where only the lights were selected (without any filters), the initial control mode will be set to Network (N) otherwise it will be set to Smart (S). When in Smart mode the following can be done to switch control modes:
| Icon | Description |
|---|---|
| Headlight | |
| Taillight | |
| Full steady beam | |
| Medium steady beam | |
| Low steady beam | |
| Day flash | |
| Medium flash | |
| Night flash | |
| Disconnected light | |
| Unknown light mode |
Lights Configuration to use (only for devices with more than 32KB memory)NOTE: In case your ANT+ light is not on the list, please check the following garmin thread: https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/f/showcase/248492/data-field-smart-bike-lights
Individal Light Network is an alternative light network implementation for connecting and controlling ANT+ lights. In comparison to the Garmin built-in light network, this network does not form a light network when two lights are connected, but instead it establish a separate connection for every light. This mode needs to be used for lights that have issues with the built-in light network (See Sense and Cycliq lights).
NOTE: Lights in Garmin Sensors menu need to be disabled or removed in order to use this feature!
Known limitations:
In order to avoid using Garmin Express or Garmin Connect Mobile for changing app settings, a built-in editor was added that is able to edit the following settings:
The app settings editor can be opened only when the data field is set to a 1 Field layout. To open the app settings editor it is required to tap three times the "Off" button or in case the light network is not formed or an error is dispayed, tap once anywhere on the screen to open the editor.

Because within a data field application it is not possible to swipe up/down, a bottom bar is added with up/down arrows to navigate through menu items in case they don't fit the screen.
For devices that support CIQ 3.2+ and have more than 32KB memory, the app setting editor can be reached by using the data field on-device settings view. To reach the app settings menu, hold the Up or Back/Menu button (depends on the device, e.g. Back/Menu for Venu 2, Up for fenix 6) and the navigate to ConnectIQ Fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Settings.
There are two ways to control more than one light of the same type (e.g. two headlights):
In case there is more than one taillight or headlight paired, the data field will automatically group all headlights or taillights into one virtual light, which will forward commands (e.g. light mode changes) to all grouped lights. For the battery level, it will display the lowest battery level of the grouped lights. When pairing different headlights or taillights (e.g. Varia 515 and Flare RT), the virtual light will display only light modes that both lights support, based on the light mode number. For example when grouping Varia 515 and Flare RT, the following light modes will be available:
0 - Off
5 - Peloton for Varia 515 and Night Steady for Flare RT
7 - Day Flash
even if they both supports "Night Flash" mode, it will not be displayed, because Flare RT uses 63 and Varia 6 for the light mode number.
NOTE: This works only on high memory devices (more than 32KB of memory).
Smart Bike Lights #2 data field is a copy of the original data field, which can be used along with the original one and configured separately. By using both data fields, it is possible to configure two lights of the same type (e.g. two headlights), one configured in the original data field and the other in the copy data field. When creating the configuration for the lights, it is required to set the Serial number input in Lights Configurator, so that the data field will know which of the two lights to control.
This data field can connect to one or more ANT+ light controllers. For connecting to an ANT+ light controller, the data field creates a virtual ANT+ light which has to be paired with the controller. After the virtual light is paired with the controller, the data field can perform various actions configured with the Lights Configurator. These are the currently supported actions:
Due to how ANT+ light controllers work, the data field is required to open an ANT channel for every configured button on the remote controller. Before pairing the remote controller, make sure that there are enough free ANT channels left. Check the links below to determine how many simultaneous ANT channels (sensors) your Garmin device supports:
Currently supported remote controllers:
Check the following videos:
The following errors can be displayed:
Connect Radar option was enabled and the bike radar is not paired. Use the Garmin Sensors menu "Search All" option to pair the radar. The sensor name should be: SBL RD <DEVICE_NUMBER>Monkey C
79.7%
JavaScript
19.9%
Smart Bike Lights is a data field IQ Connect application for Garmin devices, that displays and controls ANT+ lights. Garmin has a built-in Auto Light mode setting, which automatically adjusts the light intensity based on the ambient light or time of day. The issue with Auto mode is that is not configurable and that is why this application introduces a special Smart mode, which is fully configurable based on sunset, sunrise, speed, ... (check supported filters).
| Small | Light Panel | Dark Small | Dark Light Panel | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ![]() |
| ![]() |
Light Beam Activated setting to Timer Start in Menu -> Sensors -> Lights -> Network Options (optional step. Ignore this step if such setting does not exist on your device)Lights ConfigurationConnect IQ -> Smart Bike Lights| Name | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Smart (S) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the filters defined with Lights Configurator |
| Network (N) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the Garmin Light mode |
| Manual (M) | ![]() | Light is controlled by the user |
For Edge touch screen devices (Edge 1030/1000/Explore/820/830):
For Edge 530:
Data Fields -> Connect IQ data fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Control mode and change to the desired modeFor watches with CIQ 3.2 and more than 32KB memory (Fenix 5 Plus/5S Plus/5X Plus, Fenix 6 Pro/6X Pro/6S Pro, Forerunner 245 Music/645 Music/745/945, MARQ, Descent Mk2):
Up button until a menu shows up (make sure that you have a recent firmware installed)ConnectIQ Fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Control mode and change to the desired modeFor other devices:
The initial control mode will be determined based on the configuration from the Lights Configurator. When using a configuration where only the lights were selected (without any filters), the initial control mode will be set to Network (N) otherwise it will be set to Smart (S). When in Smart mode the following can be done to switch control modes:
| Icon | Description |
|---|---|
| Headlight | |
| Taillight | |
| Full steady beam | |
| Medium steady beam | |
| Low steady beam | |
| Day flash | |
| Medium flash | |
| Night flash | |
| Disconnected light | |
| Unknown light mode |
Lights Configuration to use (only for devices with more than 32KB memory)NOTE: In case your ANT+ light is not on the list, please check the following garmin thread: https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/f/showcase/248492/data-field-smart-bike-lights
Individal Light Network is an alternative light network implementation for connecting and controlling ANT+ lights. In comparison to the Garmin built-in light network, this network does not form a light network when two lights are connected, but instead it establish a separate connection for every light. This mode needs to be used for lights that have issues with the built-in light network (See Sense and Cycliq lights).
NOTE: Lights in Garmin Sensors menu need to be disabled or removed in order to use this feature!
Known limitations:
In order to avoid using Garmin Express or Garmin Connect Mobile for changing app settings, a built-in editor was added that is able to edit the following settings:
The app settings editor can be opened only when the data field is set to a 1 Field layout. To open the app settings editor it is required to tap three times the "Off" button or in case the light network is not formed or an error is dispayed, tap once anywhere on the screen to open the editor.

Because within a data field application it is not possible to swipe up/down, a bottom bar is added with up/down arrows to navigate through menu items in case they don't fit the screen.
For devices that support CIQ 3.2+ and have more than 32KB memory, the app setting editor can be reached by using the data field on-device settings view. To reach the app settings menu, hold the Up or Back/Menu button (depends on the device, e.g. Back/Menu for Venu 2, Up for fenix 6) and the navigate to ConnectIQ Fields -> Smart Bike Lights -> Settings.
There are two ways to control more than one light of the same type (e.g. two headlights):
In case there is more than one taillight or headlight paired, the data field will automatically group all headlights or taillights into one virtual light, which will forward commands (e.g. light mode changes) to all grouped lights. For the battery level, it will display the lowest battery level of the grouped lights. When pairing different headlights or taillights (e.g. Varia 515 and Flare RT), the virtual light will display only light modes that both lights support, based on the light mode number. For example when grouping Varia 515 and Flare RT, the following light modes will be available:
0 - Off
5 - Peloton for Varia 515 and Night Steady for Flare RT
7 - Day Flash
even if they both supports "Night Flash" mode, it will not be displayed, because Flare RT uses 63 and Varia 6 for the light mode number.
NOTE: This works only on high memory devices (more than 32KB of memory).
Smart Bike Lights #2 data field is a copy of the original data field, which can be used along with the original one and configured separately. By using both data fields, it is possible to configure two lights of the same type (e.g. two headlights), one configured in the original data field and the other in the copy data field. When creating the configuration for the lights, it is required to set the Serial number input in Lights Configurator, so that the data field will know which of the two lights to control.
This data field can connect to one or more ANT+ light controllers. For connecting to an ANT+ light controller, the data field creates a virtual ANT+ light which has to be paired with the controller. After the virtual light is paired with the controller, the data field can perform various actions configured with the Lights Configurator. These are the currently supported actions:
Due to how ANT+ light controllers work, the data field is required to open an ANT channel for every configured button on the remote controller. Before pairing the remote controller, make sure that there are enough free ANT channels left. Check the links below to determine how many simultaneous ANT channels (sensors) your Garmin device supports:
Currently supported remote controllers:
Check the following videos:
The following errors can be displayed:
Connect Radar option was enabled and the bike radar is not paired. Use the Garmin Sensors menu "Search All" option to pair the radar. The sensor name should be: SBL RD <DEVICE_NUMBER>Monkey C
79.7%
JavaScript
19.9%